Favorite L-82 engine modification

[dlarsen]

1. What are your favorite engine modifications?

2. When making an engine modification do you strive for stock appearing, or full tilt who cares it’s my car route?

3. Does anyone have dyno time to back up his/her mods?

P.S. Did you have finish off your mods with trans, suspension and rear end work?

 

[MaineShark]

I guess it really depends on how much you want to retain stock appearance and equipment.

Modifications can go from simple thinks like headers and replacement intake manifolds, to new carbs, to more significant changes like new heads, to total rebuilds, increasing bore&stroke, or even just building a whole new engine.

Sky's the limit.

For the record, while my engine isn't technically an L82 (it was replaced at some point), the only mods are an open-element air cleaner and true dual exhausts (stainless, 2-1/2", with Dynomax Ultra-Flo stainless mufflers), the engine dynoed at 250 hp, which is what I was told to expect from a stock L82 with similar mods, so I'm guessing it's fairly similar to the L82's specs.

I'm going to use that dyno run as a baseline, and make new runs after every significant modification. I'm converting to electric fans, so we'll see how much power that frees up, after I get the car back on the road. After that, I'll be replacing the intake with an Edelbrock Performer RPM Air-Gap, so we'll see what that's good for. I may do a cam and torque converter change at some point this winter (or next spring), so we'll see how much that helps.

Stay tuned

Joe

 

[Thumper]

I've always stayed away from historically significant or fully restored or survivor cars, as I love to change them up. I prefer heavily modified engine compartment with tons of chrome and polished goodies, braided hoses, and well thought out components over a stock engine compartment.

 

[80vette_ca]

;stupid I Love crome almost as much as just raw power. You guys think it would take much to take an L82 to 450hp?

 

[Thumper]

Horsepower costs money. If you want that "throw you back in the seat" kind of power, that comes from torque, not horsepower. The GM ZZ4 crate motor makes over 350 HP, but makes over 400 ft lbs of TORQUE! Which makes it a very fun motor indeed. It's far easier, and probably cheaper to just bolt in a crate motor, than to beef up the old L82.

You could add NOS, or a turbocharger, or my favorite, a supercharger and get there with the L82. But if the L82 is a bit tired (lots of miles), then it probably won't last long with any of these mods.

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

80 VETTE,

That all depends on what you want to spend. I'm currently running a SB 400 in my 78, but if I were to start all new I'd do things a little different.

For a quick history, When I was racing jeeps, sand drags and off road, I build a 125 cu in Ford. Turbo charged with 17 pounds of boost. It put out just over 275 HP. With the add of nitrus, to make up for the turbo lag, it was colse to 325 Hp. Now to do this you have to start from the bottom up and build for a turbo.

Anyway 450 HP out of 350 cu in is not that hard if you do it right to start with. There are draw backs to this as well. With what you have allready I think I'd be looking at a good aftermarket TPI to add to your motor. Looks good, makes HP and very driveable.

Gary